What does hijacking mean?
Hijacking names the act of seizing and controlling something without legitimate permission, most famously a vehicle such as an airplane, car, or ship. In figurative use, the word describes any forceful or unauthorized takeover: people may hijack a meeting, hijack an organization’s direction, or hijack an online account or communications channel. Because the underlying idea is a seizure of control, the word carries a distinctly negative connotation, suggesting disruption, coercion, or the displacement of legitimate authority. Hijacking can function as a noun for the act itself and as a verb form describing the taking-over of control. Although its best-known sense involves transport, modern usage has expanded considerably in journalism, technology, politics, and ordinary conversation, where it often emphasizes appropriation and loss of control rather than physical seizure.
The act of unlawfully seizing and taking control of a vehicle, aircraft, ship, system, organization, or other resource.
"The hijacking ended after police surrounded the vehicle and persuaded the suspects to surrender."
The noun is used for the event or act itself and is common in reports of aviation, transport, cybercrime, and security incidents.
To seize, commandeer, or take control of something without legitimate authority or the consent of its rightful owner.
"The group was accused of hijacking the broadcast and demanding that its statement be read aloud."
As a verb form, hijacking is often used figuratively and can refer to taking over an account, system, event, conversation, or organization.
The plural is used for separate acts or incidents, especially when reporting multiple events.
"The news network reported two hijackings in the region within the same week."
From the sky to the server: “hijacking” moved from literal vehicle seizures to unauthorized takeovers of systems, accounts, and conversations.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hijacking come from?
Hijacking is the gerund of hijack, a word whose spelling and meaning became established in English by the late nineteenth century. The form is closely associated with highjack, an older variant spelling, although proposals connecting it to particular continental words remain debated rather than certain. Its initial prominent sense was the seizure of a ship or other vehicle, and later figurative senses developed from the broader idea of taking control without authorization.
Related word forms
How hijacking is actually used
The term is used in formal and journalistic contexts as well as in everyday figurative speech. Its literal and figurative uses are strongly negative, implying that control was gained without legitimate authority and usually through force, deception, or coercion. British and American usage is broadly similar.